Pokerstars announces the launch of PokerStars.fr to operate within France under the new legislation regarding online games. Meanwhile another site, PokerHeaven announce they have stopped accepting registrations from French customers while the site is applying for a license in the country.


Ths is a press release from PokerStars:

"PokerStars has announced the launch of PokerStars.fr, a French-only version of the world's largest online poker site, after being granted the licence number 0006-PO-2010-06-25 from the Autorité de Régulation des Jeux en Ligne (ARJEL) to operate in France.

The PokerStars ARJEL application was submitted on May 19, 2010 and met all ARJEL licence specification requirements. From now on, PokerStars.fr will enable French players initially to play free money tournaments and sit and gos. PokerStars.fr will begin running cash games once the regulations of the French government for online poker have been published. This looks likely to happen Wednesday June 30."

PokerHeaven has also informed us of their plans regarding the changed legal status of online games in France.

"Following the pass of new legislation in France regarding online poker, PokerHeaven will stop accepting registrations from players located within France from Tuesday 29/06/2010. PokerHeaven is applying for a license to legally operate in France under the new laws passed and we hope to make a further announcement on this topic shortly," read the statement from the site.